:grouphug: :grouphug:

I need to start again. I haven't touched family history since my mom passed away (15 years ago). She was the genealogist in the family. Her side was pretty well documented back for several generations - thanks mostly to her LDS relatives. My dad's side was proving difficult. I need to dig out all her records. It just seems like such an insurmountable task, yet it was important to her, and I would like to carry on.

One more thing. I used to drink a lot of water with every meal because I thought it alleviated the feeling of reflux. I've found out that if I don't drink much liquid with my meals, it is actually better. I think it is due to not filling up my stomach with liquid and creating more pressure.

I have severe GERD. I was on Nexium for years until the side effects got to be too much. These are some ideas that have helped me, to some extent. Of course, I have to remember and employ some serious self discipline. Sit very straight when eating. Chew very slowly (count to 20) Do not bend over after eating for at least an hour Take a walk after eating. Not fast walking, slow and leisurely Avoid foods that trigger my reflux (obviously). I have a list of acidic and alkaline foods, with the ones that cause me the most distress highlighted, on my refrigerator as a reminder Don't combine proteins with starches. No meat and potatoes for me. When eating an acidic food, pair it with an alkaline one. For instance, eggs with spinach and avacado Take a zantac when I know I'm going to be eating outside my normal routine I've had three esophageal endoscopies with dilation to open up strictures caused by the GERD. Every time I get the same advice. Take Nexium daily and come back when you have trouble swallowing. Or surgery for my hiatal hernia. Gee, thanks. I've been off PPIs for almost a year now. If I religiously follow the above list, it is much better. Not totally alleviated, but better. But life being what it is, I don't always. At least the side effects from the Nexium are gone. Oh, I lost 10 lbs., mostly from my middle, and I do believe that has helped. Now if I could lose another 20.

This. I took low dose hrt for a couple of years to help with night sweats and sleep issues. I'm beginning to suspect that I had a high sex drive, although I didn't know it at the time since I had no way to compare. While it has decreased some, largely due to not sleeping, it is still pretty healthy. Dryness is an issue but we deal with it. Dh is patient. Actually in some ways, I enjoy sex more now than pre menapause since there is no worry about an unexpected pregnancy. A sort of freedom I didn't entirely feel before. I hope to enjoy sex for quite a few more years. Dh and I have always been pretty well matched in that regard.

I paid my mother for watching my children when I worked. She didn't give up a job, but she did give up some of her freedom to watch her grandchildren. It wasn't just babysitting on occasion; it was a commitment on her part. I liked my girls being with their grandmother, but I felt it was fair to pay her. I could afford it. I know she would have done it workout pay, but I was able to and felt I should. The arrangement was mutually beneficial.

No, I never used one. Because I was determined to prove those parents wrong. I should have. Life would have been so much easier, and my dd would have been so much safer. I make no judgments on parents who do. I've been humbled.

The only grocery item that would get me out of the house in pouring rain is coffee. Nothing gets done till this lady has her coffee.

This is timely. I just bought a new pair of shoes today. I went to one store and bought the first comfortable pair I tried on. Sketchers for $65. Last time I bought new shoes was - uh - 5 years ago.

Since neither my dh nor I like too many people or crowds and prefer to be more alone, we look for quieter places. One of our very favorite spots is the Oregon Coast around Yachats. Beautiful, quiet, long walks. If you want warmer weather, that's probably too far north, but I just love it. In fact, we're headed over there tomorrow.

This was me. After my twins were born, it was like a switch flipped. That door was closed. The family was complete. That feeling never changed. Plus dh was done. For once we were on the same page exactly at the same time. No regrets.

Hah! My daughter, a Catholic, played on a Baptist basketball team called the Crusaders. We were happy they let her join so she could play.

No, doesn't bother me.

I don't know if these have been mentioned already, but my dd has enjoyed: Jules Verne Rudyard Kipling Robert Louis Stephenson Edgar Allen Poe Brian Jacques Edgar Rice Burroughs James Herriott David Eddings (Pawn of Prophecy) Eragon (Christopher Paolini) William Horwood Diana Wynne Jones Cornelia Funke Arthur Conan Doyle Fahrenheit 451 Mrs. Mike Island of the Blue Dolphins My Side of the Mountain Dove Twenty-one Balloons The Hobbitt Lord of the Rings Where the Red Fern Grown Shane Giant The Scarlet Pimpernel

We've been using Facebook messenger and email. She has Verizon and I added the international plan to her phone - most for my peace of mind. Oh, I guess my younger girls have been talking to their sister with 'online calling' . I didn't even know. I'm so out of touch with technology. Guess I'll have to have my girls give me a lesson.

Yup. Woke up one morning to Windows 10. I spent most of the morning swearing at the computer. Am I not in control of anything anymore????

Well, my dh will say, "I need to ask the boss" when he wants to get out of something but would prefer to not deal with it directly. If I'm in a good mood, I'll give him an out. Otherwise, I'll remind him that he is a grown adult male who can answer for himself. Honestly, when I hear people say this, I usually think it's more in jest than anything else. Seriously, neither of us is the boss. We work together. Our marriage doesn't run like an office with a boss and the workers.

When I hear about a couple where one chooses not to work at a job for pay, and they are able to make work, both financially and emotionally, I have a positive reaction. Because....that opens up a job for someone else who really needs it to pay rent or put food on the table. Like a single mom, or someone with a disabled spouse who can't work, or a couple where financially it doesn't pay to work (can't earn enough to pay for day care, etc.). I'm only referring to couples who freely choose not to be employed outside the home. One the other hand, I do not have a negative reaction where both work when financially they don't need the extra income. My reaction is based on the fact that there aren't enough jobs with a livable wage around here for the people that need them. Also, I cannot wrap my brain around the idea that this woman is getting free money? What? Her dh worked for that money. How he chooses to dole it out is his decision. It was not free money; it was earned. I don't get to tell people how they use their own money. Supporting a SAHW, SAHM, a mistress, their parents, siblings, a irresponsible friend. He earned it; his choice.

You need a 'daily' option.

I have a sister-in-law that can frequently be heard telling her dh it's his turn to 'babysit' the children so she can have her night off. They both work and have two children. I can hear her saying, "I babysat the kids so you could golf. Now it's your turn to babysit so I can go shopping." I've never heard anyone else ever refer to babysitting their own children.

I remember times when it felt like I got out of bed, and the next thing, it was 10:00 PM - without any down time for me. That was probably one reason why I loved extended breastfeeding - I got to rest. But the little ones got bigger, and it got easier. Summer's were more restful than the school year. The work just never ended. There were really busy times, and then less busy. I felt more rested and had more free time with two children and working full time than I did staying home full time with five children and homeschooling. When I worked, the house didn't get so messed up because there was no one in it most of the day. My days were more physically and mentally tiring staying home/homeschooling as opposed to working. That's how it felt to me. I've got it easy now. My youngest are 15 and are capable of basically running the house. I 'almost' feel guilty.

Ah! I routinely ignore any post that is even marginally related to politics, but I remembered the comment the person had made about censorship.

A friend of a friend posted this today. A Trump supporter was banned from Facebook for complaining about censorship. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3603345/Conservative-activist-Lauren-Southern-banned-Facebook-mentioning-censorship.html Is this what they're talking about.

Well, this post just cost me $25. Very happily spent, I might add. Now if I can get my dd to calm down and re-focus on her last essay of the year.

Should read all the posts first. Forget it. No. Wouldn't do it. How rude of her. I was thinking more along the lines of my rhubarb crumble or something.